Download Word-Formation Processes in EPS

Faculty of Political Science
November 27, 2014
Word-Formation Processes in EPS - 3
Affixation (or Derivation)
Definition
Derivation is a very productive process of word-formation, where one or
more affixes are attached to a root in order to produce a new word known as
derived word. This process of word-formation is also termed affixation for,
whenever we produce a new word this way, we need to use an affix – i.e. a prefix
(also beginning) or a suffix (also ending).
Usually derivation changes the part of speech of the root to which a suffix is
added.
PREFIX + ROOT WORD + SUFFIX(ES)
e.g. SUPRA-NATION-AL-ITY
Classification of derivation
There are two kinds of derivation: prefixation and suffixation.
Generally speaking, prefixation will lead to a meaning alteration while
suffixation will lead to word-class change.
In terms of pronunciation, in general prefixes and suffixes are stress neutral,
but some Neo-Latin suffixes, added to a root-word, can lead to a stress shifting.
cóntinent continéntal
président presidéntial
cómplex compléxity
ecónomy económic
pólitics politícian
díplomat diplómacy diplomátic
N.B.: For further explanations on the effects affixes have on pronunciation,
see the handout on “Pronunciation Issues in DSE”, pp. 13-16.
© 2014 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
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Faculty of Political Science
November 27, 2014
Affixes can be classified according to the following features:
1) in terms of position
The affixes which are added to the front part of a base are termed prefixes while
those which are added to the back part of a base are termed suffixes. For
example:
Prefix: un-, dis-, pre-, under-, down-, etc.
Suffix: -ment, -ness, -ance, -tion, -y, etc.
2) in terms of productivity
Some affixes are more productive such as "un-", "dis-", "-able" while some other
ones are less productive, for example, "mal-" and even the dead ones such as
"for-" in the word forgive.
3) in terms of origin
Some affixes are borrowed from other languages (mostly Latin and Greek) while
some others are native – that is, Germanic – ones.
Native affixes: un-, mis-, be-, fore-, out-, over-, under-, ness-, -dom, etc.
Neo-Latin affixes:
Latin ones: dis-, in-/im-/ir-/il, sub-, inter-, counter-, mini-, ex-, re-, post-, etc.
Greek ones: anti-, neo-, proto-, pseudo-, hyper-, etc.
Generally speaking, a native affix will be added to a native base. But we do have
some exceptions, that is to say, the affixes and bases of different origins can be
combined to form new words. For example:
Rewrite (Latin prefix "re-" plus a native base "write")
Unjust (native prefix "un-" plus an Old French base "just")
4) in terms of meaning
Since most prefixes will alter the meaning of the base they are attached to, they
are usually classified into different groups in terms of their meaning alteration.
Negative prefixes: un-, non-, in-, dis-, a- etc.
Reversative prefixes: un-, de-, dis-, etc.
© 2014 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
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Faculty of Political Science
November 27, 2014
Pejorative prefixes: mis-, mal-, pseudo-, etc.
Degree or size prefixes: super-, out-, sub-, over-, under-, hyper-, ultra-, mini-, etc.
Attitude prefixes: co-, counter-, anti-, pro-, etc.
Time or order prefixes: fore-, pre-, post-, ex-, re-, etc.
Locative prefixes: super-, sub-, inter-, trans-, etc.
Number prefixes: mono-, bi-, di-, tri-, multi-, poly-, etc.
Miscellaneous categories: auto-, neo-, pan-, proto-, semi-, vice-, etc
5) in terms of the shift of word-class origin
Since most suffixes will change the word-class of the base they are attached to,
they are often classified into different groups in terms of the shift of word-class.
However, remember we have some prefixes that can behave like suffix, such as
"en-"1.
Denominal noun suffixes (it means that a noun is derived from another noun by
adding a suffix): -hood, -ship, -let, -dom, -ist, etc
e.g. childhood, friendship2, booklet, kingdom, economist
Deadjective noun suffixes (it means that a noun is derived from an adjective by
adding a suffix): -ness, -ity
e.g. kindness, rapidity, etc.
Deverbal noun suffixes (it means that a noun is derived from a verb by adding a
suffix): -er, -ee, -ment
e.g. writer, payee, development
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The prefix “en-” (and its variant “em-” used before the consonants “b”, “m” and “p”) can be most frequently added
to nouns and adjectives in order to build up verbs:
− en- + able (adj) = to enable;
− em- + bed (n)= to embed;
− em- + bitter (adj)= to embitter;
− en- + danger (n) = to endanger;
− en- + large (adj) = to enlarge;
− em- + power (n) = to empower;
− en- + rich (adj) = to enrich;
− en- + shrine (n)= to enshrine.
2 The suffix "-ship" should be distinguished from the free morpheme "ship". Compare with the word spaceship,
spaceship is a compound since the "ship" in the word is a free morpheme while friendship is a derived word, since the
ship in the word is not a free morpheme but a suffix.
© 2014 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
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Faculty of Political Science
November 27, 2014
Deadjective verb suffixes (it means that a verb is derived from an adjective by
adding a suffix): -ify, -en
e.g. simplify, widen
Deadjective verb prefix (it means that an adjective will be changed into a verb by
adding a prefix): en-, be-, etc.
e.g. enlarge, becalm, etc.
Denominal adjective suffixes (it means that an adjective is derived from a noun by
adding a suffix): -ful, -ish, -al, -less, -ic, -ical3
e.g. beautiful, boyish, national, hopeless, atomic, etc.
Deverbal adjective suffixes (it means that an adjective is derived from a verb by
adding a suffix): -able
e.g. washable, readable, changeable, comparable, measurable, tolerable, etc.
Deadjective adverb suffixes (it means that an adverb is derived from an adjective
by adding a suffix): -ly, -ward
e.g. happily, backward, etc.
Denominal adverb suffixes (it means that an adverb is derived from a noun by
adding a suffix):
-wise
e.g. clockwise, etc.
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Please pay attention to the following couples of adjectives ending in –ic/-ical:
− economic (connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country, an area or a
society) vs economical (inexpensive, cheap);
− classic (1. accepted or deserving to be accepted as one of the best or most important of its kind; 2. very
typical; 3. elegant, but simple and traditional in style or design; not affected by changes in fashion) vs
classical (1. widely accepted and used for a long time; traditional in style or idea; 2. connected with or
influenced by the culture of ancient Greece and Rome; 3. written in a Western musical tradition, usually
using an established form and not played on electronic instruments);
− historic (important in history) vs historical (connected with the past and/or with the study of history).
© 2014 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
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Faculty of Political Science
November 27, 2014
Derivational paradigm
It is a word family built by adding prefixes and suffixes to a root word.
Verb: to environ
Personal Noun: environ-ment-al-ist
General Noun: environ-ment
Adjective: environ-ment-al
Adverb: environ-ment-al-ly
Verb: to employ
Personal Noun: employ-er/employ-ee
General Noun: employ-ment
Adjective: employ-able
Adverb: ====
Verb: to manage
Personal Noun: manag-er
General Noun: manage-ment
Adjective: manage-able/manag-er-ial/manage-ment-al
Adverb: manag-er-ial-ly/manage-ment-al-ly
Verb: legal-ize
Personal Noun: ====
General Noun: legal-iz-ation
Adjective: legal
Adverb: legal-ly
N.B.: please note stress variation, i.e. stress shifting, in each of the
abovementioned derivational paradigms!!
© 2014 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
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